Permanent Brands
Hongwei-7, where two massive battles had swept through.
The city was devastated, but paradoxically, this made the reconstruction work much easier.
This was because the already old and corroded buildings had been cleanly demolished by the aftermath of the battles.
Whirrr—! Boom!
Loud noises echoed over the ruins.
The C-008 girls, the sturdy workers and one of the mascots of the Ark, were the Troller-class Mobile Aircraft Carrier and the Leviathan remains.
Beside them, the A-202 Raptor girls, who had newly joined from Ark 86, were carrying away the by-products without a word of complaint.
"Uh... is it okay if we just do this?"
"Hmm? Then is there something more you want to do?"
"......It's not that."
"Ah! And it'll be mealtime in two hours, so you can head to the central plaza then."
"Meal...?"
Though some looked bewildered, as if they were still unfamiliar with our Ark's system, their expressions seemed much brighter than before.
Regardless, the resources they carried were all being recycled into the Ark's facilities.
[Commander—! The expansion of ECHO Factory 1 is complete!]
Karen's excited voice came through the communicator.
I wished a hologram image could be transmitted along with it, but the Ark's technology hadn't reached that level yet.
"Really? You did it faster than I thought."
[The newly manufactured C-008 units were a huge help.]
"Good. How is the indoor farm coming along?"
[As you requested, Commander, I've expanded it to be four times larger than the current facility. The installation of the hydroponic growers was finished yesterday, and currently, Alpha and three C-008s are working together on the sowing.]
I nodded with a satisfied smile at her report.
The C-008s—these girls were truly all-rounders.
Construction, manufacturing, farming. Plus, they had ample breasts.
There was truly nothing they couldn't do. Moreover, since their production cost was relatively low, they were essentially the SCVs that saved the Terrans in the Galactic War.
In the mobile game, they were the ones who popped first whenever a battle broke out...
But for the development of the Ark or outposts, conversations couldn't even start without them.
Thanks to the abundance of Astral wreckage in Hongwei-7, the acceleration in the Ark's development speed was visible.
I originally thought the expansion of the ECHO production room would come later...
My gaze shifted to one side.
A named entity of the Astrals, the Leviathan, which was a staggering 600-meter-long colossus, had made it possible.
However, this inevitably brought a following problem—transportation.
"Karen, what's the status of the Grendel armored vehicles captured from Ark 86?"
[Ah—! You mean the ARX-12s? I've set aside the operational ones for repairs. As for the ones that are completely destroyed or broken, I plan to collect the usable parts and use them to manufacture the TFR-7 Mercury Howl as you instructed, Commander!]
"Hmm..."
The Grendel was a desirable armored vehicle, but what we needed right now were trucks rather than tanks.
The five transport trucks we currently possessed were woefully insufficient to carry resources from the northern mines and the Hongwei district.
[The Grendel's lower frame is so sturdy that if we remove the upper turret and mount a cargo bed, it'll become an excellent large transport truck. Oh! I've also noted that the removed turrets will be recycled into Bastion platforms later.]
"Right. You're being very resourceful."
So she was going to dismantle the Grendels down to the component level to make Mercury Howls and Bastions?
I had my doubts even after giving the order, but seeing Karen speak so confidently, it seemed there were no issues.
To transport resources from both the northern mines and Hongwei-7...
I needed more trucks.
Even if the resources here were depleted, the importance of transport would never diminish.
Transport was essential to activate the Ark base and the outposts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Rumble—!
With a heavy exhaust sound, a Mercury Howl set off toward the Ark, kicking up dust.
"Whew, it's done."
Sherpa wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and checked the time.
5:00 PM.
As if by magic, it was exactly the time the scheduled workday ended. She perched on a suitable rock and brought her hand to her ear in a familiar motion.
💬 Pathfinder Squad Tactical Connection Link - Encrypted Channel.
[Sherpa: Sisters, can you hear me?]
Less than ten seconds after sending the message, a sharp reply flew back.
[Bait: ...What, aren't you working?]
[Sherpa: Our working shift for the Ark is done.]
[Bait: Huh? What do you mean? Why is the work there finished already? It looked like you guys had a mountain of things to clean up. Shouldn't you be grinding relentlessly for at least three days and nights?]
Sherpa let out a giggle at Bait's bewildered reaction.
It made sense; if it were Ark 86, it would have been natural to work with lanterns lit until dawn. With whipping for no reason as a bonus.
[Sherpa: The Fleet Commander said we should operate on a 10-to-5 system? Something like that.]
[Bait: What's that?]
[Sherpa: He said the daily routine starts at 10 AM and must end at 5 PM. He says that's when efficiency is highest. We do work overtime sometimes, but then we get separate additional meals.]
[Zero: ......Additional meals?]
The quiet Zero reacted to the word meals, and Compass joined the conversation.
[Compass: It's probably high-concentration nutrient packs, bread, and fruit. Right?]
[Sherpa: Exactly—!]
Spoken like someone who'd lived here briefly. And Compass, their leader, wasn't finished yet.
[Compass: The bread and fruit at that Ark were definitely delicious.]
[Bait: A-A-a-no—! Wait a minute! Why are you guys the only ones eating that?! I want to eat b-b-b-bread too!]
[Zero: ...Fruit.]
A smile played on Sherpa's lips as she read the messages transmitted to her mind.
She could clearly picture Bait throwing a fit in shock.
Hehe... this is so great.
A happy smile spread across Sherpa's face.
Thanks to the Commander's care, even though she was over 1,600 km away, it felt as if her teammates were right here, beside her.
She was so happy to be able to talk like this with her teammates, who were like family, without the constraints of distance. Just then, Sherpa saw the mass-produced ECHOs carrying food.
[Sherpa: Then I'll go eat! See you later.]
[Bait: Sigh... Eating delicious things all by yourself. I hope you get indigestion—!]
[Zero: ...Me too, fruit. Send a photo at least.]
The noisy voices of her teammates continued until the very last moment before the communication cut off.
"I'll help too—!"
Sherpa stood up, gazing at the crimson sunset.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Salute! V-60 Vanguard, returning after completing repairs."
The ECHO at the very front gave a spirited salute.
The girls who had been broken and reduced to rags during the fierce battle with the Leviathan had returned to Hongwei-7. Their tattered armor was now pristine, and their broken shields were restored to mint condition.
"Good work."
I patted the shoulders of the V-60 girls a couple of times.
Through this recovery process, their numbers had increased. Five girls were visible to my eyes.
Including Vivi and Sisi, who were stationed at the northern mine base, a total of seven had been created.
It's starting to look like a proper army now.
Of course, there was still a long way to go.
And behind them, curious eyes peeked out.
"......"
They were the A-202 Raptor model ECHOs from Ark 86, with black short hair and slender builds.
Like the V-60 ECHOs, they were frontal assault models, but unlike their heavily armored sisters, their design philosophy was the exact opposite.
Hit-and-run melee dealers.
Models specialized in disrupting enemy lines with fast mobility, though their durability and firepower were low.
In fact, they were said to be ECHOs capable of playing various roles on the front line, such as enemy disruption and attrition warfare.
For the record, Arva was the one who informed me about them in detail.
In the mobile game, they were the ECHOs who dropped like flies the moment enemies appeared, like basic infantry, so I didn't have any specific memories related to their lore.
For that reason, it would be much better to mix the composition rather than running them solo.
So, while repairing Hongwei-7, I had been thinking about reorganizing their structure.
It was the [1 Tanker + 3 Dealers] combination, one of the immutable laws of gaming.
If I put a V-60 as the leader and place three A-202s as the damage dealers, I should be able to use them in various operations, right?
From reconnaissance and small-scale skirmishes to full-scale war.
The balance seemed decent for all operations. It would be perfect if a supporter were added, but I decided to shelve that thought for a later time.
"A mixed squad of V-60 and A-202... I think that's a good idea. Tactical flexibility will increase significantly."
Arva nodded in agreement with my plan.
"They certainly complement each other's weaknesses. If we do that, the damage to the A-202 girls will likely decrease significantly."
Helena felt the same.
"They are fast, but... their armor is weak."
She clicked her tongue while looking at the thin armor of the A-202 Raptors.
Thus, five mass-produced Squads were created, each consisting of one V-60 leader and three A-202s.
To keep them from being disorganized, the squad names were cleanly set in military style: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo.
"Leaders of each squad, step forward."
At my call, five V-60s stepped forward and lined up.
Behind them, their three Raptor wingwomen followed in a row. The sight of them looking like a reliable mother duck and her nimble ducklings naturally brought a smile to my face.
"Good. Now, let's see if you can earn your keep."
However, there was one awkward point.
These girls all looked identical, without a single difference in paint.
While they could distinguish each other through the data link, they were completely indistinguishable to my eyes, unlike Vivi and Sisi.
If they got mixed up in a chaotic battle, there would be no way to command who was Alpha squad and who was Bravo squad.
I should give them some name tags so they're easy to tell apart.
After some thought, recalling the case of Vivi and Sisi, I pulled a thick permanent marker from my pocket and approached the leader of Alpha Squad.
"Commander...?"
"Stay still."
I grabbed her chin and placed the pen tip on her smooth cheek, and then on the armor plate of her protruding upper chest.
Then, applying pressure, I slowly and very meticulously drew the Greek letter α (Alpha).
This feels strangely erotic.
Vivi and Sisi.
Was it because I had already held girls with the same appearance?
Thinking that these girls would also moan the same way if I fucked them, I felt my cock tightening slightly.
"Haa-uuh...!"
Moreover, the fact that I, the Commander, was personally granting them a mark left them trembling all over in overwhelming gratitude.
They were like religious fanatics receiving a stigmata.
"Th-Thank you...!"
"Right, then you guys are next."
"Y-Yes!"
Next, three black-haired Raptor models stood side-by-side before me.
Similarly, I engraved the Alpha mark on their cheeks and then lowered my gaze. The smoothly curved abdomen and the white skin right next to the navel caught my eye.
"......!!!"
Driven by personal desire, I engraved the same mark in the sensitive spot next to the navel.
Watching the A-202 girls flutter in confusion each time, I proceeded to engrave marks on the ECHOs of the other squads in turn.
Those brands, glistening because the black ink hadn't dried yet, stood out exceptionally.
Satisfying.
Having satisfied my personal urges for once, I proudly scanned the signatures engraved on the mass-produced ECHOs' bodies and capped the marker.
"Now, rest until further orders are given."
Then, with a light step, I headed toward the command room within the Bastion platform.
After assigning patrol areas to each mass-produced Squad, I planned to call some of the other girls and relieve some tension.
As the Commander headed toward the command room, the open area instantly turned into chaos.
"Uh... isn't this a permanent marker?"
"You're right. What if it washes off during a shower?"
It was a stigmata personally granted by the Ark's Commander.
Especially the A-202 Raptors, who had never received such a thing, looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
Then, one ECHO spoke.
"Let's engrave it."
"...Huh?"
"Can't we just engrave it like a tattoo? The C-008s should have the tools."
"—!!"
Watching the ECHOs swarm toward the area where the C-008s were working, Arva and Helena looked at each other and shrugged.
Whirrrr—!
Whirrrr!!
Soon, from the corner where the dismantling work was taking place, accompanied by acrid smoke, strange procedures followed to turn the marker brands into permanent tattoos—brands of the Commander.
However, the role of the marks was not simply for girl-or-foe identification.
Late at night.
Knock, knock.
A knock echoed in the room of Alpha Squad, who were resting in their newly created quarters.
"Miss Pomen?"
When the leader, V-60, opened the door, Pomen was standing outside. She glanced into the room through the gap of the open door and smiled thinly.
"Are all the girls here?"
"Pardon? Yes. They are, but...?"
"Great. The Commander is looking for you right now."
Pomen's eyes blatantly scanned V-60, who was resting in comfortable clothes, and the A-202s on the beds. A mischievous smile spread across her lips.
"Dress comfortably—no, as lightly as possible—and follow me."
"Lightly, you say?"
"Yup, very lightly."
There was no detailed explanation.
But the Commander's orders were absolute.
The four ECHOs followed Pomen toward the Bastion platform without a word of complaint. The tattoos engraved on their chests and next to their navels glistened in the darkness.